my 18 month old son will not sleep through the night he just screams until we get him up any suggestions?

Answer 1

Benylin? Piriton? Whiskey?

Answer 2

Is this a new thing or has he always done it? Ask your health visitor for advice in case there is more to this than it first seems (only you or they would know).

However, this is my offering to you if it is straightforward night waking -

First check that he is not unwell or soiled then if all is ok - it may sound harsh - but let him cry!! Tell him - no, it is sleep time and leave the room. Do not turn lights on or reward his waking with cuddles if he is fine. The controlled crying technique is quite popular... but I have found a relaxing consistent bedtime routine to work for me.

Is he still having a lengthy lunchtime nap? Maybe try to shorten this if he is having more than an hour or so as it may be interrupting his need for night sleep

If he thinks you will get up with him at night, he will keep looking for you to get up and be with him. Dont offer any milk, at 18 mths he should be able to have taken enough food during the day to get him through the night. Water is the only thing that should be offered - any more is an incentive to wake up.

If you work, try taking a couple of days off to recover as it will prob take a few nights to 'unlearn' and learn that waking you all up produces no reward. He may be a bit angry that what has always happened before (you getting up with him) isn't happening anymore but this will subside in a couple of days. It will be tough, but it is tough love and requires you to be strong - you will feel so much better after.

Good luck xx

Answer 3

My son was the same way. We talked to our pediatrician, he said it would do no harm to let him cry it out. It will be hard, it took 3 nights (our son is very stubborn). When he realizes you won't come in and sooth him he will go to sleep. He has slept through the night ever since. I could not handle the crying so my Husband sent me away for those 3 nights. I know some parents think it's mean, but he has no recollection of it and we all sleep peacefully now. God Bless.

Answer 4

I had 2 kids with the same problem

I would reccomed Millpond Sleep Clinic - AMAZING!!! - ask for Claire

http://www.mill-pond.co.uk/


Subject to routines that i can not speak for as you havent mentioned....


The long and short of it is that at this age you may have to do what is called controlled crying.

IT IS VERY HARD TO BEAR AnD YOU MAY HAVE TO TIE YOUR WIFE DOWN TO PREVENT HER GOING TO THE BABY!

The idea is that you put the baby down and assuming it starts to cry straight away, count 5 mins (it will seem like forever)

At 5 mins go in. If he is standing then put him down, cover, give a little sshhh and leave (TRY NOT TO SAY ANYTHING BUT shh AND GET IN AND OUT ASAP - if he was really screaming, then give it a little longer JUST to calm him - AS SOON as he is quiet in that instance put him down)

Once left, if he starts again (HE WILL) give it 10 mins and then same again

Then 15 mins and same again
etc

It may take 2 hours but it will work

--the idea is that you are just letting them know you are still there and have not abandind them

The next night you start at 10 mins before you go in and then on from there

the third night 15 mins before you go in etc....

It may be hard but a week is all it should take..

REALLY GOOD LUCK

Answer 5

The controlled crying technique..its brilliant.start a bedtime routine if he doesnt already have one and keep a set bedtime, close the door to the living room behind you when you take him to bed to show thats gone now .

put him to bed and if he cries ignore him for 5 minutes, go to check on him , but dont touch or pander to him, simply say goodnight again and walk away. Then leave it ten minutes n do the same, then 15 minutes etc till he gets the message that youre there and hes safe but it really is bedtime now.

id had no sleep with my son in nearly 5 months when my health visitor advised me to do this. after one night he slept 13 hours every night after.

Answer 6

This is going to sound harsh, but LET HIM SCREAM.. he will stop I assure you. Right now he is extremely spoiled, he knows if he cries you will get up... I would sleep him somewhere you can keep an eye on him for safety reasons, but in a place he will not see you checking on him.. This may take several days, but again I promise he will give it up, they all do.. A baby can be very assertive, they think they are the boss, and so far it sounds like in your house he is. Good Luck..
Ear plugs might come in handy for a few nights.

Answer 7

You need to start developing a bedtime routine. First pj's, then teeth brushing, cuddle with a story and into bed. No he will not like it at first, be consistent, he will give up and sleep through the night after a week or two.

Stop all activities - like hide and seek- at least an hour before bedtime. It is time to start getting his system ready to settle down and he can't do this if he is on a sugar high or excited because of physical activity.

Answer 8

Let him scream! Yes it does sound cruel but he knows if he screams someone will go and get him, most kids do this and it will take about three or four nights to break this habit, but, it will drive you mad so be prepared and determined.

Read him a story and do this every night, when you are finished tell him its time to sleep and then kiss him goodnight and leave.

Go back and check on him but don`t talk to him, it just lets him know you are there.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 9

I worked in childcare for 12 years. Problems like the one you are describing are not uncommon

He may be having night terrors. If that is the case than you will probably just have to rock him or hold him until he falls back to sleep. It would also be a good idea to let his pediatrician just in case.

It is also fairly common to have this type of problem during toilet training. If you are than you may want to consider putting it off for a few months.

Also, make sure that he has a bedtime routine. This will help him adjust to bedtime.

Answer 10

We tried the "no cry sleep solution". Didn't work.

We tried the "controlled crying". Worked a treat - did what it said on the tin - 3 nights and bang! perfect family again!

Gina Ford does a good book on it and goes into detail about the biological reasons for it and what sleep actually is which gives you a better understanding of why the controlled crying is not cruel and why it works.

Answer 11

O.ok. stay calm - i think of i will help you. before everything initiate this on an afternoon once you could sleep in day after as we talk. once you daughter wakes up screaming is going into her room, verify to work out if each and everything is all right and then only positioned her back off on her tummy. then you truly only ought to stay and rub or pat her back till she is going back to sleep back and only forget relating to the screaming. do no longer permit her throw herself around - only stay together with her till such time as she drifts off back. try this everytime she wakes up. the 1st night would be no longer common, the 2nd night so lots better and through the the third night she ought to sleep with the aid of yet even however long it takes.